Offensive tackle Anthony Davis (76) during the first half of the San Francisco 49ers game against the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA., on Sunday January 20, 2013.

Four years after they parted ways following three seasons together at Rutgers, Davis and Schiano will meet again when the 49ers visit Tampa Bay.

Or will they? On Wednesday, Davis didn't commit to greeting his old coach - let alone swallow him in a bear hug - when they're on the field at Raymond James Stadium.

"I don't know," Davis said. "If we make eye contact, I'll acknowledge him out of respect."

At Rutgers, Davis repeatedly clashed with the hard-driving Schiano: Davis was disciplined for reporting overweight, being late to a team function and an unspecified violation of team rules.

After he signed a five-year, $37.3 million contract extension in April, Davis said Schiano had told him he wouldn't last long in the NFL. "You will be a 1 contract and done kinda guy in the NFL. - Greg Schiano. Lol," Davis tweeted, then later deleted.

This spring, in an unflattering assessment of Schiano's style, Davis told NFL Draft Bible, "That's his idea of molding guys, by breaking their confidence down."

On Wednesday, Davis said he was ill-suited for Schiano's in-your-face approach.

"Everyone's not motivated the same way," Davis said. "I think you have to feel a person out and then figure out how that individual needs to be motivated."

For his part, Schiano, in his second year as Tampa Bay's head coach, was effusive in his praise of Davis. He termed him a "great person," a "tremendous football player" and said he was "forever indebted" to Davis, a native of Piscataway, N.J., for staying in-state and rebuffing a slew of higher-profile colleges.

That talk about Davis being a one-contract guy in the NFL? Schiano said it was a warning - not an insult - as he worked to ensure Davis maximized his vast potential.

"I told him stories about guys that can either go be long-term NFL players and get their second and third contract, or they can be fizzle-out guys," Schiano said. "And I just wanted to make sure Anthony - you know, he was talented enough to get second, third and fourth contracts, really. He's that good an athlete. And he's well on his way now."

Indeed, Davis, the No. 11 pick in the 2010 draft, has quieted critics who questioned his work ethic and desire out of Rutgers. Named a first-team All-Pro by Sports Illustrated last year, he's a key cog in one of the NFL's best offensive lines and has started 71 straight games to open his career.

Does Schiano deserve any credit for his success? Davis, noting he's "doing all right now," acknowledged his ex-coach was helpful.

"It was a learning experience," Davis said. "If you can make it there under him, you can make it anywhere."

Schiano seems to understand Davis won't be racing across the field to greet him Sunday. In time, though, he hopes Davis comes to appreciate their time together.

"I know that I got under his skin sometimes," Schiano said. "But I've worked for some great people and they've all said the same thing: Don't worry about the five or 10 years when you're coaching them or just after. Be concerned 20 years down the road. Do they thank you and respect you? I hope that's what Anthony will feel because I did push him, but I love him."

Can Davis feel the love? Not quite yet. Asked how he might feel about Schiano when he's two decades removed from college, he smiled.

"In 16 more years," he said, "we'll find out."

Briefly: Left guard Mike Iupati practiced on a limited basis for the first time since he sprained his medial collateral ligament Nov. 10. ... Wide receiver Michael Crabtree (ankle) and running back Frank Gore (ankle) were both limited in practice. ... Guard Adam Snyder did not practice, but his unspecified absence was not injury related.